First responders, Marines welcome triple amputee home

Twenty-nine months ago, Tom McRae was hospitalized from injuries incurred from a blast while serving in Afghanistan.

Thomas Brennan - Thomas.Brennan@JDNews.com

Twenty-nine months ago, Tom McRae was hospitalized from injuries incurred from a blast while serving in Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, he came home.

McRae, a 32-year-old medically retired Marine, smiled from his motorized wheelchair as he sat on the front porch of his Maple Hill home with his 6-year-old daughter Aidan as 16 Onslow County firefighters and about a dozen Marines from Camp Lejeune’s Wounded Warrior Battalion helped unload truckloads of their household goods.

“Things have gone along just as fast as they needed to,” McRae said. “It took me a little while to think I’d get this far because I didn’t realize how bad I was at first … I have a lot of friends that have lived through what I’ve been through and I’ve drawn from their strength … I wouldn’t be back home now if it wasn’t for them.”

On Jan. 16, 2012, McRae and the rest of his explosive ordnance disposal team were actively defusing an improvised explosive device, or IED, in Sangin, Afghanistan, when he stepped on a secondary IED. Having earned a Purple Heart in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2004, he said he was aware of the risks associated with combat but never expected to be “that guy” involved in a blast. Told by his doctors that he had lost both legs above the knee and his left arm above the elbow during the blast came as a shock. In addition to losing three limbs, he lost vision in his left eye and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.

His immediate concern was how he would continue being a single dad to Aidan.

But he learned he could be a father, even in recovery. During his time at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he maintained custody of his daughter, who spent time with him in the hospital, surrounded by the pain and suffering of others.

He believes she learned early on to never underestimate her capabilities and never let anything keep her from living life.

“I woke up this morning in my bed with a smile on my face and realized I was finally back home with Aidan,” McRae said. “I’m able to move on and give my daughter the ability to be a kid again, because she hadn’t had that opportunity while I was in treatment. It’s time for us both to get on with our life. Now, I’m just a little slower chasing after her.”

He said the support and care from his daughter, his mother Carolee Ryan and his stepfather Tim Ryan are the encouragement he needs to move forward.

“I had to learn a long time ago to ask for help because I can’t do certain things,” said McRae, a former gunnery sergeant. “In the beginning it was hard to ask because I had always done everything myself but now, I have no issues asking. The last thing I want is to further burden my family. That’s my biggest concern and the very reason I will ask anyone I need to for help.”

Aidan was only 3 when her father was wounded and doesn’t remember a time when he had all four limbs.

“My dad loves me and I love him and we are best friends,” she said. “I love being home …and seeing my dad smile makes me smile.”

As firefighters and Marines toted in box after box Tuesday, McRae learned that people do genuinely care and want to help.

Brian Green, 29, of Jacksonville said as soon as he heard McRae was in need of volunteers he made sure his name made it on the list. Green, a volunteer firefighter with Haws Run Volunteer Fire Department, was joined by other firefighters from Hubert, Turkey Creek, Half Moon, Richlands, Piney Green and Southwest stations. A Marine veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Green wanted to show McRae that people care.

“I can’t even imagine what he has been through or what he is going through,” Green said. “I just hope they are able to enjoy the next chapter of their life and that they will continue progressing through their recovery.”

In the coming months, the nonprofit organization Tunnels to Towers will break ground on a fully handicap-accessible home for McRae and upon completion, the family will be presented the keys. The house will be fully automated and will be controlled through an iPad application. Every feature of the home will be within compliance of the American’s with Disabilities Act, which mandates accessibility requirements for disabled people.

“Whether it is the firefighters or Marines that helped my family today or Tunnels to Towers, all I can say is thank you,” McRae said. “There are no words to describe how much better my quality of life is because of all these wonderful people.”